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QUAD ESL 57 speaker specialists in the North East?

Dmitry

Dmitry

Jazz Freak
I'm looking for an experienced restorer for the ESL 57's in the New England area.
Any recommendation s would be appreciated!
 
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Thanks, C. CDs are on their way.
I just got a pair of ESLs, I'm [really] hoping they are OK, but they didn't come with the mains cables, so I am scratching my head on how to hook them up. The old-style Bulgin 3-prongs in them. Any thoughts?
 
I thought there was another Quad guy in NY State?

I cannot help you with the old-school plugs; mine have IEC type sockets for the mains and are multi-voltage; if yours are set to US mains voltage, I think you just need a pair of power cords; I think they turn up regularly on eBAY.

I am sure you know about these sites:

http://www.quadesl.com/
http://www.quadesl.org/

and Art Dudley's Stereophile columns on restoring a fairly early pair of ESL-57s:

http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/606listening
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/706listening
 
mhardy6647 said:
I think you just need a pair of power cords; I think they turn up regularly on eBAY.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I perused some of these sources yesterday. There isn't a pair or even a single Bulgin-ended cable on eBay or anywhere else that I could find. Allegedly there were about 60,000 of these sold,; I would imagine there'd be more parts available...
They are in superb cosmetic condition, so I'm hoping the innards are good as well.
 
the only issues are age and abuse. The former probably dictates a refresh of the HV power supply and the latter (panel arcing) is always a risk with these gorgeous, elegant, but somewhat delicate - and rather idiosyncratic - ladies.

quadsnvinyl0609.jpg


Yeah, mine's don't gots no feet! :-P I do have some aftermarket stands for them; I've typically just used them on the floor and tipped forward a bit to align the very (vertically) directional tweeter panels with my listening position... as was the case in this photo. Harpo teh Kitteh (son's girlfriend's cat - whom we catsat for three years during their undergraduate tenure) happened to be making his rounds when I snapped it.
 
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There was only one pair of Bulgin connectors for sale that I could find.

Are the Quads the MGs or Lancias of the speaker world? I.e. the parts are tough/impossible to find, and are only available in the owner's circles...
Really itching to play them, alas it doesn't look like finding the Bulgin cables will be an easy task... :no:
 
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It's a closed group, you have to request to join before posting is allowed. Keeps the spammers away. I'll ask on your behalf...
 
chicks said:
It's a closed group, you have to request to join before posting is allowed. Keeps the spammers away. I'll ask on your behalf...
Click to expand...

Thanks! I can't figure out how to join that merry group. Reminds me of the olde Fido days.
 
chicks said:
Looks like mouser.com stocks Bulgin connectors. Not sure which one is applicable, maybe p/n 177-PX0410/03P?

Edit: Looks like Quad used an older style (P73) that's no longer made. Lots of other British gear used them, as well, so should be easy to find in the UK, at least.

http://www.mullardmagic.co.uk/mullard/products/102-bulgin-3-pin-quad-leak-esl-tl121.aspx
Click to expand...

The linke is deade. :smoke:
I've also read that the Marshalll amps used the same plugs. I wonder why the cables were made to be removable in the first place...but what do I know.
 
Here's the first response, from a Brit. Not sure if rs means RatShack.

rs sell the plugs or just convert to IEC sockets and thats the end of obsolete plug brigade!or stay with the private museum society all my esl 63 and 989's are IEC so why not the 57's? regards ian

Probably best to convert to standard IEC connectors.
 
Weird, link is working for me. It's in the UK, so maybe blocked if you're at work? :dunno: They stock the plugs, but asking £25 each! :yikes: Cheaper to convert to IEC, methinks.
 
The mating section is approximately 14mm in diameter. This will not fit Quad ESLs, vintage Marshall amps and others requiring a 22mm diameter connector.


The 14mm plugs are all over the place on fleabay UK. The 22mm, not so much.
 
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chicks said:
The 14mm plugs are all over the place on fleabay UK. The 22mm, not so much.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I found out.
Can you ask 'them' the part # for the Bulgin connector. Mouser and Allied sell a ton of Bulgin stuff, but w/out the part # I can't make a move. Major thanks, C.!
 
That looks very interesting, and is probably the way to go. Thanks.
I'll try to remove one of the Bulgins and see if the local hardware emporium has the IEC that would be a drop-in.
 
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